Synonyms of deceased

deceased 1 of 3

adjective

di-ˈsēst 

as in dead

no longer living

the recently deceased tenant was found by a concerned neighbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dead
• fallen
• late
• departed
• extinct
• demised
• dying
• gone
• asleep
• defunct
• low
• lifeless
• cold
• breathless
• bitten the dust
• fading
• moribund
• stillborn
• terminated
• lapsed
• inanimate
• finished
• nonliving
• insensate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• alive
• live
• breathing
• living
• going
• quick
• active
• vital
• dynamic
• animate
• operative
• functioning
• lively
• animated
• vibrant
• thriving
• vivacious
• running

deceased

2 of 3

noun

as in decedent

Related Words

• decedent
• corpse
• relics
• carcass
• cadaver
• corpus
• bones
• remains
• corse
• mummy
• ashes
• carrion
• carnage
• stiff

deceased

3 of 3

verb

past tense of decease

as in died

to stop living

no one knows what happened to the family fortune after the spinster deceased

Synonyms & Similar Words

• died
• perished
• fell
• departed
• expired
• demised
• succumbed
• disappeared
• passed (on)
• passed away
• ended
• exited
• checked out
• kicked off
• bought it
• parted
• croaked
• faded
• stepped out
• kicked in
• went
• popped off
• snuffed it
• gave up the ghost
• conked (out)
• pegged out
• kicked the bucket
• dropped
• flatlined
• predeceased
• bit the dust
• consumed
• dried up
• failed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lived
• breathed
• came to
• revived
• existed
• was
• lingered
• flourished
• prospered
• subsisted
• thrived

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective deceased contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of deceased are dead, defunct, departed, and late. While all these words mean "devoid of life," deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently. deceased is the preferred term in legal use.

the estate of the deceased

Where would dead be a reasonable alternative to deceased?

While in some cases nearly identical to deceased, dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life.

a dead, listless performance

When is defunct a more appropriate choice than deceased?

The meanings of defunct and deceased largely overlap; however, defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

When could departed be used to replace deceased?

The words departed and deceased can be used in similar contexts, but departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

When is it sensible to use late instead of deceased?

Although the words late and deceased have much in common, late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status.

the company's late president

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deceased

Adjective

Yeah, because the real Barbara still has a connection to her deceased family. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026

For example, Yasser Abu Shabab, the now-deceased head of one of the gangs, reportedly escaped prison, where he was jailed for drug smuggling. —Daniel Estrin, NPR, 13 Feb. 2026

Noun

GEDMatch is one of the databases used by the DNA Doe project, a non-profit that works to name the deceased who remain unidentified. —Crimesider Staff, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2018

Verb

Paramedics declared the person deceased and called the police department and medical examiner to the scene to take over the case, the fire department said. —Bill Feather, NBC news, 3 Jan. 2026

The posting said that upon arrival, officers located two individuals who were deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. —Harry Harris, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025